Wire-stretcher.



L. A. HIGHHOUSB WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION man NOV. 1 19m.

Patented Feb; 20,1917,

stretched and whereby LEWIS A. HIG-HHOUSE, 0F HONESDALE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Application filed November 11, 1916. Serial No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS A. HIGHHOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Honesdale, in the county of Wayne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVire- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in wire stretchers and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character of a jointed lever grip type; and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby an effective grip ishad with the wire to be eflicient coaction is had with a post or other fulcrum member.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and a1- rangement of the several parts of my improved stretcher whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in top'plan illustrating a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position, said device being shown at a point intermediate its pulling operation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in top plan of the device as herein embodied with one of the members shown in open adjustment;

Fig. 3 is aview in edge elevation of the device as herein disclosed; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrow.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, A and B denote coacting sections comprlsed in my improved wire stretcher and as herein embodied, the section A includes a head 1 preferably of metal and rectangular in cross section and which is provided with a shank 2 suitably secured, as at 3, to the elongated handle member lt-preferably of wood.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

The outer end of the head 1 is provided at substantially its center with the outwardly directed extension 5, the side faces of which being flat and the shoulders 6 at opposite sides of the extension 5 are obliquely disposed on a predetermined angleand the outer margins of said shoulders 6 are defined by the forwardly directed lips or flanges 7.

The member B is preferably formed of a single length of strap metal bent back upon itself to afford the parallel arms 8 disposed at opposite sides of the extension 5 and pivotally engaged therewith as indicated at 9. The inner ends 10 of the arms 8 are disposed on an incline corresponding to the incline of the shoulders-6 so that the movement of the member B in one direction about the pivot 9 is limited. v

The wire W to be stretched is adapted to be clamped between a shoulder 6 and an end 10 of an arm 8 and in minimum the possibility of the wire slipping from therebetween, I find it of advantage to have said'ends 10 serrated, asv indicated at 11, in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.

The member B is of such a length as to extend a predetermined distance beyond the outer end of the extension 5, and the portions of the arms 8 in advance of the extension 5 are offset outwardly, as indicated at 12, so that lateral movement of the stretcher is prevented during the pulling operation and when the outer portion of said member B is in contact with a post P or other support. it coacts as a fulcrum.

The outer marginal portions of the arms 8 or more particularly the portions 12 thereof adjacent the eye points of the shoulders 6 are out out, asindioated'at 14, to afford substantially rounded surfaces for contact with the post P or other member.

By this arrangement it will be perceived that when the handle 4 is pulled the members A. and B will have such relative movement as to positively assure a grip upon the wire being pulled.

Initially the outer part of the curved surfaces 14 is caused to contact with the post P or the like so that upon pulling on the handle 4: a greater leverage will be effected, but it will be perceived that as the handle 4 is pulled the member B will slide inwardly of the post P so that the' wire Wwill be brought in close proximity to the post so that the wire may be stapled or otherwise secured thereto. It has been fully demon order to reduce to a' from between the inner ber B and the coacting shoulders G and longitudinally disposed the post P during the stretching operation, easier held during the the wire can be much stapling operation.

It is also to be noted that the flanges 7 hereinbefore referred to serve to effectively prevent the wire W being drawn sidewise ends 10 of the memwhich arrangement in practice is of material import.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a stretcher constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and'is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptibleof some change andmodification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I donot wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in prac-' tice,except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: V V r r 1. A wire stretcher comprising an elongated member provided atone end with a longitudinally disposed extension affording shoulders at opposite sides of said extension, a second member substantially U- shaped in form and disposed at opposite sidesof the extension and pivotal'ly'engaged therewith, the free ends of said second member coacting with the shouldersof the first member to afford clamping means, the portion of the second member in advance of the extension having its opposite sides offset outwardly, corresponding edges of the offset portions of the second member being dis posedon a. predetermined inwardly directed curvature. "c r 2. A wire stretcher comprising an elongated member'prov'ided at one end with a extension afiording Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Washington, D. 0.

shoulders at opposite sides of said extension, a second member substantially U-shaped in form and disposed at opposite sides of the extension and pivotally engaged therewith, the free ends of said second member coact ing with the shoulders of the first member to afford clamping means, the portion of the second member in advance of the extension having its opposite sides offset outwardly, the free ends of the second member and the shoulders of the first named member being disposed on predetermined corresponding inclines, the outer margins of said shoulders being defined by forwardly directed flanges.

3. A wire stretcher comprising an elongated member provided at one end with a longitudinally disposed extension affording shoulders at opposite sides of said extension, a second member comprising an elongated strip of flat material substantially U-shaped in form and disposed at opposite sides of the extension and pivotally engaged there with, the free ends of said second member coacting with the shoulders of the first named member to afford clamping means, the free ends of the second member and the shoulders of the first member being disposed on predetermined corresponding inclines whereby the movement of the second member about its pivot in one direction is limited, the portion of the second member in advance of the extensionhaving its opposite sides offset outwardly, the edges of the offset portions of the second member adjacent the eye points of the shouldersof the first named member being disposed on a pre determined inwardly directed curvature, the outer margins of the shoulders of the first named member being defined'by forwardly directed flanges positioned beyond the outer faces of the adjacent portions of the sides of the second named member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto'afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. i g LEWIS A. HIGHHOU SE. lVitnesses:

E. G. MUMFORD, A. E. WARDQ Commissioner of Patents, 

